Learning to Lead: A Practical Framework for Leadership Development in Canadian Radiology

Leadership has emerged as a core competency for Canadian radiologists navigating an era of challenges, including the integration of artificial intelligence, regional service consolidation, value-based care, and growing administrative complexity. Yet formal leadership training remains underrepresented in radiology training and in continuing professional development. This article synthesizes contemporary leadership scholarship into a practical framework for radiologist development and is based on the first module of the CAR leadership course. Six interlocking concepts are examined: (1) leadership as an ongoing journey rather than a positional title; (2) authentic, self-aware leadership grounded in the "incomplete leader" model of distributed capabilities; (3) adaptability across leadership styles; (4) team chemistry and cognitive diversity; (5) the first 100 days of a new leadership role; and (6) mentorship as both a developmental obligation and a hedge against burnout. Effective leadership in radiology is learnable, but not by a checklist. It requires interactive education, reflective self-assessment, deliberate construction of complementary teams, intentional onboarding, and a sustained commitment to mentoring the next generation. The Canadian Association of Radiologists, in concert with Canadian Radiology departments and the Canadian Heads of Academic Radiology (CHAR), has taken on the task of formalizing these elements into structured programming that can meet the needs of busy radiologists.